Procrastination is the thief of bargains (or: it wasn't meant to be)

[Pigmy Pony]

I've been watching a nice pair of KEF Reference 3s on Ebay for some weeks, should I or shouldn't I, and this morning I decided to go for it. And guess what? Yep, gone...

Anybody else missed the boat on something through dithering? Or even regretted an impulse buy? Probably everyone here :doh: I know I have.

[Alex_UK]

That's a shame, Steve.

I can't think of any missed bargains off the top of my head, nothing significant, anyway. Usually if it happens on something small I can find something similar, but if it was truly unique, then I think you have to just bite the bullet.

The biggest thing I have probably jumped on was Tamzin's car a couple of months ago - we spotted the advert at about 8.30 on Sunday morning when the dealer was closed, but I rang him on his mobile and practically forced him to accept a deposit and take it off sale.

Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention...(!) Usually me being impulsive and buying something that fits above as "truly unique" without reading the advert properly! I've noticed a few times that adverts are sneaky on eBay/Vinted etc., and they say "study the photos as they form part of the description" - if you magnify the image to 500% you may just spot the scratch or blemish that they haven't actually put in the description... I bought a (very cheap, fortunately) watch that had a cracked crystal but wasn't specifically mentioned in the description, and the photos were so poor it wasn't obvious it was actually broken.

[Macca]

Yamaha NS1000M. At a good price but he was selling several pairs so thought I'd make a lower offer. He knocked it back but I thought well, give it time he'll come round. But he shifted them all really quickly.

Some REF 3s going Nottingham way but it's a bit of a trek from where you are.

[Pigmy Pony]

That's a shame, Steve.

I can't think of any missed bargains off the top of my head, nothing significant, anyway. Usually if it happens on something small I can find something similar, but if it was truly unique, then I think you have to just bite the bullet.

The biggest thing I have probably jumped on was Tamzin's car a couple of months ago - we spotted the advert at about 8.30 on Sunday morning when the dealer was closed, but I rang him on his mobile and practically forced him to accept a deposit and take it off sale.

Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention...(!) Usually me being impulsive and buying something that fits above as "truly unique" without reading the advert properly! I've noticed a few times that adverts are sneaky on eBay/Vinted etc., and they say "study the photos as they form part of the description" - if you magnify the image to 500% you may just spot the scratch or blemish that they haven't actually put in the description... I bought a (very cheap, fortunately) watch that had a cracked crystal but wasn't specifically mentioned in the description, and the photos were so poor it wasn't obvious it was actually broken.

Yeah, that "study the photos..." thing is a proper get out for sellers. Sneaky. But I suppose if you're not talking big money, and the seller is too far away for face-to-face, you just have to take a punt.

[Pigmy Pony]

Yamaha NS1000M. At a good price but he was selling several pairs so thought I'd make a lower offer. He knocked it back but I thought well, give it time he'll come round. But he shifted them all really quickly.

Some REF 3s going Nottingham way but it's a bit of a trek from where you are.

Nottingham's not a trek, it's practically on my doorstep! I was fully prepared to drive to Colchester for those KEFs, to satisfy myself they weren't secretly cack.

Anyway, no big rush I suppose, I've a lot of stuff I need to sell in the meantime.

[Pigmy Pony]

I'm sure I saw some NS1000Ms for sale on this forum recently, looked tidy too.

[Macca]

I'm sure I saw some NS1000Ms for sale on this forum recently, looked tidy too.

There's always some going somewhere but I don't have the money to indulge myself anymore. Maybe in a few years time.

The ones I missed were not that far away from me, could have got a taxi there and back to collect them.

[Pigmy Pony]

There's always some going somewhere but I don't have the money to indulge myself anymore. Maybe in a few years time.

The ones I missed were not that far away from me, could have got a taxi there and back to collect them.

Don't let distance get in the way of a good deal mate. I'll always help with that.

[Macca]

Don't let distance get in the way of a good deal mate. I'll always help with that.

Very good of you but you might regret that offer ;)

[Pigmy Pony]

Very good of you but you might regret that offer ;)

Within reason ofc. Doesn't matter if these are going for two pounds fifty, they're not gonna fit.

https://www.analogueseduction.net/user/products/large/Harman_JBL%20Everest%2067000_RW_Pair_RT-758c2b45.jpg

[Pieoftheday]

2004 triumph speed four, low miles, mint condition, good price, thought about it for a few weeks until there it was, gone:doh:

[Pigmy Pony]

One here James, just in time for summer :)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202511087749950?advertising-location=at_bikes

and not a million miles from you.

[Pigmy Pony]

Oh, and when I miss out on something, and someone says, "oh well, it wasn't meant to be", I just want to punch them - I mean, what kind of consolation is that :steam: They should be saying "Right, I'm going to dedicate my life to finding you another".

[CageyH]

Mine was a mint Modwright preamplifier, which had just been serviced at a good price.
I asked Mrs H for permission, and by the time she had answered it was gone.

I did not do the same for my Primare, and she has not noticed it come in the house, or noticed it in my mancave, so why did I ask before?

[Pigmy Pony]

Mine was a mint Modwright preamplifier, which had just been serviced at a good price.
I asked Mrs H for permission, and by the time she had answered it was gone.

I did not do the same for my Primare, and she has not noticed it come in the house, or noticed it in my mancave, so why did I ask before?

Probably because she might wonder where the Modwright-shaped hole in your bank statement came from :)

[CageyH]

There are ways of masking these things. ;)
She has not seen the Primare shaped hole.

[Maelstrom]

Evening all,

I was clearing out the attic yesterday and found an old Hi-Fi Choice from 1999. It reminded me of The One That Got Away. And it still stings.

Back then, I was a young dad with no money and big dreams. I spotted a classified ad in the local paper (remember those?) – a man was selling a pair of Quad ESL-63s for £400 because he was moving abroad. Four hundred quid. For electrostatics.

I phoned him. They were still available. I arranged to view them that evening.

Then I dithered. Did I really have £400? What would my wife say? Could I even drive them with my NAD 3020? I called back two hours later to say I'd take them.

He'd sold them to the first person who viewed them. Forty minutes earlier.

I still think about those Quads. I've never even heard a pair properly. But in my mind, they would have changed my life.

Moral of the story: if the price is silly and the item is legendary, just buy it. Apologise later.

Alistair

[Pigmy Pony]

Evening all,

I was clearing out the attic yesterday and found an old Hi-Fi Choice from 1999. It reminded me of The One That Got Away. And it still stings.

Back then, I was a young dad with no money and big dreams. I spotted a classified ad in the local paper (remember those?) – a man was selling a pair of Quad ESL-63s for £400 because he was moving abroad. Four hundred quid. For electrostatics.

I phoned him. They were still available. I arranged to view them that evening.

Then I dithered. Did I really have £400? What would my wife say? Could I even drive them with my NAD 3020? I called back two hours later to say I'd take them.

He'd sold them to the first person who viewed them. Forty minutes earlier.

I still think about those Quads. I've never even heard a pair properly. But in my mind, they would have changed my life.

Moral of the story: if the price is silly and the item is legendary, just buy it. Apologise later.

Alistair

You be careful now Alistair, your hifi is far too new for you to be thinking in those terms! Btw, Hope everything is still good in Lintonville :)

[Barry]

52 years ago I had the chance to buy a pair of Quad 57 ESLs. Strictly speaking I couldn't afford them, as I was an impecunious doctoral student at the time. Nonetheless, with the help of my then girlfriend, I bought them. Took them to Quad for them to give the speakers a "once over", and have used them ever since. :)

[Alex_UK]

52 years ago I had the chance to buy a pair of Quad 57 ESLs... ...have used them ever since. :)

I bet that's a record, Barry - unless anyone has used an item of kit for longer than that...? Or what's your longest serving item?

(I've had my 401 for 40 years this year, but as it hasn't been in constant use I wouldn't count it.)

[Barry]

I bet that's a record, Barry - unless anyone has used an item of kit for longer than that...? Or what's your longest serving item?

(I've had my 401 for 40 years this year, but as it hasn't been in constant use I wouldn't count it.)

I should have added they were used and were for sale in a second hand goods shop. To make the decision whether to buy or not pressing, the shop were only asking £80 for the pair. Might seem nothing nowadays, but then it was a lot of money for me.

[Andy831]

My 401 back in 71 was something like £13 for a used one, it's sounds ridiculous today but I had just started work on £5 a week so it was 2.5 weeks wages and I just could not stretch to that sort of money back then and had to wait another 25 years before I could afford it.

[Pieoftheday]

One here James, just in time for summer :)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202511087749950?advertising-location=at_bikes

and not a million miles from you.
Looks nice,can't ride at the moment though as I got knocked off my last bike last year

[Pigmy Pony]

I've been watching a nice pair of KEF Reference 3s on Ebay for some weeks, should I or shouldn't I, and this morning I decided to go for it. And guess what? Yep, gone...

Anybody else missed the boat on something through dithering? Or even regretted an impulse buy? Probably everyone here :doh: I know I have.

Nice surprise this morning - turns out the bloke selling the KEFs has been out of the country on holiday, and stopped the listing so that he wouldn't be getting enquiries while away. So not sold :)

Now they can be couriered, but I'd rather see/hear before buying, so that's me driving down to Colchester on Monday. Road trip!

Seller assures me that when boxed these speakers will not fit in the car no way. So the van it is then. Still, with its new wheels and tyres it looks and drives proper. Just need to make up a picnic to break up the journey :)

[Macca]

Nice surprise this morning - turns out the bloke selling the KEFs has been out of the country on holiday, and stopped the listing so that he wouldn't be getting enquiries while away. So not sold :)

Now they can be couriered, but I'd rather see/hear before buying, so that's me driving down to Colchester on Monday. Road trip!

Seller assures me that when boxed these speakers will not fit in the car no way. So the van it is then. Still, with its new wheels and tyres it looks and drives proper. Just need to make up a picnic to break up the journey :)

Exciting!

Which Reference 3 are they I guess not the more recent one?

[Pigmy Pony]

Exciting!

Which Reference 3 are they I guess not the more recent one?

No. Nice though they are, they're just out of my price range. By another £3k. These are called "Foundry Edition", which are the same as the regular ones, but come in either gloss white/blue Uni-Q driver, or gloss black/copper Uni-Q.

https://134494578.cdn6.editmysite.com/uploads/1/3/4/4/134494578/3AUW4DMKAAF4FAFVQ74DAJ5J.jpeg?width=2400&optimize=medium

This is the pair I'm buying.

[Macca]

They're well tidy. I thought it might be the 1990s ones.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I can't really remember anything that "got away", I've always usually ended up with the things that I wanted to purchase.

[Alex_UK]

They look awesome Steve, sure they will sound it, too, Kef are one of those brands that never makes a bad product.

[Macca]

Measured performance is outstanding:

https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1668:nrc-measurements-kef-reference-3-loudspeakers&catid=77:loudspeaker-measurements&Itemid=153

[Ali Tait]

Look good Steve, should sound as good as they look going by the measurements.

[Barry]

Well done Steve - job sorted! :)

[Pigmy Pony]

Thanks guys. Of course when they get to fire across my room and into my knackered old ears things may be slightly different :doh: But it won't be the speakers' fault. It was a conversation with Ali at NEBO last year that finally convinced me that the full range drivers in my current speakers are probably never going to give me what I was after.

Next job will be to sell a load of my stuff to claw some money back. Wish me luck!

[Barry]

Make sure you list it all here first. :)

We know you will be honest and accurate in all descriptions of the items you want to sell. Good luck.

[Ali Tait]

So it's my fault then. :D

[Pigmy Pony]

So it's my fault then. :D

I've always thought it prudent to blame whoever lives the farthest away :)

[Ali Tait]

:lol:

[Tim]

I've always thought it prudent to blame whoever lives the farthest away :)

What a brilliant plan . . . consider that idea now stolen :D

[CageyH]

For future reference, I am sure I live further away. ;)

[Pigmy Pony]

For future reference, I am sure I live further away. ;)

Oh yeah, about 900 miles I reckon. Your name will be mud next time something goes wrong ;)

[CageyH]

Oh yeah, about 900 miles I reckon. Your name will be mud next time something goes wrong ;)

:lol:

900 miles if you go through Paris.
1000 miles if you avoid it.

[Barry]

I think we have Members who live further away: Spain; Eastern Europe, and the USA. :hmm:

[CageyH]

I am sure we do, but why risk Mrs P-P meeting the person who is blamed.
The chances of my going back to the UK for anything HiFi are pretty slim.